A world-champion Elvis tribute artist will be performing the music made famous by Elvis Presley to Weyburn on Friday, April 5, at McKenna Hall. Dean Z will be touring Canada with his tribute band, the Cadillac Kings, featuring The Uptown Hornz.
Doors for the show will open at 7 p.m. and the show will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $44.95 plus fees and GST. They are available online at www.etixnow.com.
He and the 12-piece band and a full horn section will put on about a two-hour family-friendly show that will focus primarily on his early career in the 1950s, and also on his comeback concert from 1968, which was televised on NBC.
鈥淭he show is really an encapsulation of his best years, in my opinion. They鈥檒l understand show why he was the King of Rock鈥檔鈥橰oll, and still is,鈥� said Dean, adding that in his opinion, the songs from the 1950s were the best of his large catalogue of songs.
Asked what his favourite Elvis songs are as a performer, he noted 鈥淛ailhouse Rock鈥� was the first one he ever did, plus he ends his shows with a song from the 1968 concert, 鈥淚f I Can Dream鈥�.
His show will include Elvis鈥檚 love songs, like 鈥淟ove Me Tender鈥� and 鈥淐an鈥檛 Help Falling in Love With You鈥�, as well as his Gospel songs.
鈥淓lvis is basically the American rock鈥檔鈥檙oll songbook,鈥� said Dean, adding he does not wear the jumpsuits from Elvis鈥檚 1970s period, but he does do some of the later songs, like 鈥淚n The Ghetto鈥�.
He plays guitar along with the backup band, and on one song, he plays all of the instruments. Dean also pointed out there is no lip-synching in this show, as all performances are live.
Dean Z has dedicated his entire life to honoring the legacy of Elvis Presley, the 鈥淜ing of Rock'n'Roll.鈥� From his early days growing up in the desert of Lancaster, California, to stages across the globe, he has shown time and again he is one of the best in the business today.
When Dean was three years old, he saw the documentary, 鈥淭his Is Elvis鈥� on TV. He immediately jumped up on the coffee table and started to imitate Presley鈥檚 every move. Not long after, Dean鈥檚 mother made his first Elvis jump suit and he was on his way.
鈥淭he first song I sang on stage was 鈥楯ailhouse Rock.鈥� Every time I shook the audience would scream, and I鈥檝e been shaking ever since,鈥� Dean said, noting that later on, he entered a talent show at his sister鈥檚 school, and fell in love with being on stage and performing.
At the age of 17, after performing in several shows of his own, Dean took off for the bright light city that would set his soul on fire 鈥� Las Vegas.
Throughout the next 12 years, Dean performed in Japan, Australia, Norway, Denmark, England, across Canada and the United States. Dean soon earned a spot with the World's Greatest Live Tribute Show, Legends in Concert.
When he isn鈥檛 on stage as Elvis, he can be found producing plays, independent films and performing with his two bands, The Gimps and The Kraken.
In 2013, Dean decided to go after the title of Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist. Sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., The Ultimate Elvis庐 Tribute Artist Contest鈩� involves hundreds of Elvis tribute artists competing in preliminary events around the world for an invitation to the finals in Memphis.
2014 was a banner year for Dean; he received the Heart Of The King Award in Las Vegas at the former Las Vegas Hilton on the same stage Elvis himself performed over 700 shows during the 1970s.
鈥淏eing a huge Elvis fan, I got to pursue a childhood dream, and I鈥檝e been able to travel the world,鈥� said Dean, noting he works hand in hand with Elvis Presley Enterprises, which is owned by the late singer鈥檚 estate in Memphis, Tenn. He said he has been going to Elvis Week every year since he was seven years old, and he continues to work at the event today.
